Condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit for vehicles, which can be inserted axially in an end of a cylindrical collector tube ( 11 ), comprises a cylindrical cap ( 12 ), suitable for making the seal inside the collector tube ( 11 ), and a casing ( 13 ) for a drying means that carries a filtering element ( 15 ) at one end, in which the cap ( 12 ) and the casing ( 13 ) are coupled through a ball-and-socket joint ( 16 ).

The present invention refers to a condenser cartridge, in particular ofan air-conditioning unit for vehicles.

An air-conditioning unit for vehicles comprises, amongst other things, acondenser, a drying means for removing particles of water from thecooling liquid and a filtering element for holding impurities that maybe present in the cooling liquid.

It is know commonplace to integrate the drying means and the filteringelement directly inside a collector tube of the condenser.

The so-called condenser equipped with integrated dehydrating filtertherefore has the task of removing water particles from the coolingliquid, filtering impurities that may be present in the cooling liquidand acting as an accumulator for a certain amount of liquid. The dryingmeans, which must be replaced after a certain period of operation of theair-conditioning unit, can be contained in a rigid casing or else in apermeable bag.

The collector tube is therefore provided at one of its cylindrical endswith a removable cap, which makes a hermetic seal during the operationof the unit and allows access to the internal components formaintenance.

The cylindrical caps are therefore, for example, generally equipped withat least one seat for the insertion of a rubber sealing ring, or O-ring,which makes the seal against the inside of the wall of the collectortube.

Moreover, it is known to arrange an elastic safety element to keep thecap stably in position in the cylindrical tube during the operation ofthe condenser. The elastic safety element, for example consisting of aSeeger ring, is positioned on the top of the cap itself in engagementagainst the inner wall of the collector tube.

The removable caps for collector tubes can either be separate from thecasing containing the drying means or possibly joined to it through aspacer shaft, rigidly connected, or else made integrally, with the capand coupled with the cartridge.

Cartridges made in such a way occupy the entire height of the collectortube and are positioned in axis with respect to it on the bottom, at thecap and at a separator ring that divides the inlet portion of the fluidinto the collector tube from the outlet portion.

Such cartridges do not carry out an optimal positioning between thecartridge and the collector tube. Indeed, both of the components mustcurrently be produced with a high precision of dimensions to make acorrect seal of the intermediate ring on the inner wall of the collectortube, an indispensable condition for the correct operation of theair-conditioning unit.

Moreover, the described cartridges with integrated cap, which occupy theentire height of the tube, significantly reduce the useful volume forthe cooling fluid.

In addition, known cartridges require a spacer shaft that shall be ofgreater length the smaller the size of the casing containing the dryingmeans. Long spacer shafts represent a waste of material, a reduction ofthe useful volume for the cooling fluid and increase the aforementionedproblems of positioning of the cartridge inside the collector tube.

The purpose of the present invention is that of making a condensercartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit for vehicles thatovercomes the quoted drawbacks.

Another purpose of the present invention is that of making a cartridgethat improves the performance of the unit.

Another purpose of the present invention is that of making a cartridgethat is particularly simple and functional, with low production andassembly costs.

These purpose according to the present invention are accomplished bymaking a condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unitfor vehicles as outlined in claim 1.

Further characteristics of a cartridge are object of the dependentclaims.

The characteristics and advantages of a condenser cartridge, inparticular of an air-conditioning unit for vehicles according to thepresent invention shall become clearer from the following description,given as an example and not limiting purposes, referring to the attachedschematic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top side view of the cartridge according to the presentinvention mounted inside a collector tube shown in section;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an enlarged and partially sectioned detail of thecartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a further cartridge according to the present inventionprovided with a permeable bag containing the drying means.

With reference to the figures, a condenser cartridge, in particular ofan air-conditioning unit for vehicles is shown, wholly indicated with10.

In FIGS. 1 and 4 the cartridge 10 is shown inserted axially in an end ofa cylindrical collector tube 11, stably coupled through suitable knownsupports with an end of a condenser, not shown.

The cartridge 10, shown in FIG. 1, comprises a cylindrical cap 12, whichmakes the seal inside the collector tube 11, and a casing 13 thatcontains a drying means.

According to what is known, the casing 13 can comprise a rigidcontainment element provided with a portion equipped with a plurality ofholes, or openings 14 for the passage of the cooling fluid through thedrying means, as shown in FIG. 1, or else it can comprise a bag that ispermeable to the cooling fluid applied to the filtering element 15according to that which is depicted in FIG. 4.

The casing 13 also carries, at one of its ends, a filtering element 15that holds possible impurities contained in the cooling liquid.

In the cartridge 10, according to the present invention, the cap 12 andthe casing 13 are coupled through a ball-and-socket joint 16.

The ball-and-socket joint 16, in the example shown in the figures,comprises a first portion 17, or spherical element, made integrally atone end of the casing 13 and a second portion 18, or matching socket,made integrally on the inner surface of the cap 12.

The ball-and-socket joint 16, and in particular the spherical element17, is made on the casing 13 close to the end carrying the filteringelement 15.

Between the filtering element 15 and the portion of casing 13 providedwith openings 14, as well as the permeable bag, a perimetric O-ring 23is arranged that, in the example shown, is formed integrally on theouter wall of the casing 13, but which could also be made integral withthe collector tube 11.

According to what is shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge 10 according to thepresent invention is inserted from the bottom towards the top in thelower end of the collector tube 11. An elastic safety ring 21 isarranged in contact with the outer surface of the cap and in engagementagainst the inner wall of the collector tube 11 to ensure the seal ofthe cap 12 in operating conditions.

The cap 12, which makes a seal against the inner wall of the tube 11,supports the casing 13 of the cartridge 10 arranged with the filteringelement 15 in the lower part of the tube 11.

Moreover, with the cartridge 10 mounted, the separator ring 23 is alsopositioned making a seal against the inner wall of the tube 11 anddivides the collector tube in a watertight manner into two separatechambers.

Indeed, the cooling fluid coming from the condenser enters through theupper inlet opening 19 into an upper chamber in which the portion ofcasing 13 provided with openings 14 is immersed. Then the fluid, throughthe openings 14, reaches the inside of the casing 13 where it meets thedrying means contained. The fluid then goes out from the lower part ofthe casing 13 through the filtering element 15 and fills the lowerchamber of the collector tube 11, from which it comes out through alower outlet opening 20.

As exemplified in FIG. 1, projecting centring elements 22 can also beforeseen on the casing 13 of the cartridge 10, to guide the positioningof the cartridge 10 itself in the collector tube 11.

The condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit forvehicles object of the present invention has the advantage, when mountedin the tube, of adapting to it even in the presence of possible sizeimperfections ensuring a better seal of the separator ring.

The cartridge object of the present invention is advantageously used incondenser tubes open at the lower end, in which the filtering part mustbe arranged close to the lower part of the tube.

Moreover, the cartridge according to the present invention canadvantageously be made in small sizes.

1. Condenser cartridge, in particular of an air-conditioning unit forvehicles, which can be inserted axially in an end of a cylindricalcollector tube (11), comprising a cylindrical cap (12), suitable formaking the seal inside said collector tube (11), and a casing (13) for adrying means that carries a filtering element (15) at one end,characterized in that said cap (12) and said casing (13) are coupledthrough a ball-and-socket joint (16).
 2. Cartridge according to claim 1,characterised in that said ball-and-socket joint (16) comprises a firstportion (17), or spherical element, made integrally at one end of saidcasing (13) and a second portion (18), or matching socket, madeintegrally on the inner surface of said cap (12).
 3. Cartridge accordingto claim 1, characterised in that said ball-and-socket joint (16) ismade on said casing (13) close to said end carrying the filteringelement (15).
 4. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in thatsaid casing (13) comprises a rigid containment element integral withsaid filtering element (15) provided with a plurality of holes oropenings (14).
 5. Cartridge according to claim 4, characterised in thata portion of said casing (13) provided with openings (14) is separatedwith respect to said filtering element (15) by a perimetric ring (23).6. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that said casing(13) comprises a bag that is permeable to the cooling fluid connected tosaid filtering element (15).
 7. Cartridge according to claim 6,characterised in that said permeable bag is separated with respect tosaid filtering element (15) by a perimetric ring (23).
 8. Cartridgeaccording to claims 5 or 7, characterised in that said perimetric ring(23) is formed integrally on the outer wall of said casing (13). 9.Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that said casing (13)carries a plurality of projecting centring elements (22) on an outerpart.